On Monday 25 September, 2006 at 5:00 pm, the National Congolese Police (PNC) launched its first operation of ?weapons control patrol? in Kinshasa, in Binza Pigeon, Ngaliema district, north of the city and in Kingabwa, Limete district. The operation lasted until Tuesday morning.

Even though the impact of this first operation is still unclear, we have to hail the determination of the PNC to secure goods and people in the capital.

For this operation 1,200 policemen, supported by 150 elements of the national military Police, have been mobilized.

As a reminder, during a meeting of the Steering Committee on the securisation of elections last week, it had been decided that the Police would launch "opérations coup de poing" in Kinshasa, for the control of weapons in the capital.

As a result of this meeting, the political delegates of the headquarters of the two candidates for the second tour of the presidential election signed an act of engagement for "a gun-free town" last September 23.

The operation conducted last night is the first of a series that will continue beyond the presidential run-off and provincial elections of 29 October.

The United Nations Security Council, last Saturday, expressed concern on ?the unchecked circulation of weapons and armed individuals in Kinshasa. It endorses [the CIAT] call for a cantonment of the security forces of both candidates and of FARDC troops in the province of Kinshasa, and for a ban on the circulation of armed individuals in this province.?

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Translated by Nina Yacoubian / MONUC